I missed a stretcher. Yesterday Clark University President John Bassett wrote a letter seeking to justify his censorship of Norman Finkelstein, who had been scheduled to give a speech on campus, and his letter included this statement:
What especially exaggerates emotions on this topic are the combined facts that Palestinians have suffered and are suffering many abuses and that anti-Semitism is increasing in America.
I notice that commenters have leapt on this statement. My friend James North says it is possibly the most astonishing statement he's ever read on this site. What is Bassett's evidence that anti-Semitism is increasing? And to equate that with the horrors in Palestine? What does he mean by abuses? Why not call things by their name? 1200 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians. That's abuses? This is a disgrace. And remember, Finkelstein is the son of Holocaust survivors. He can tell you about anti-Semitism. Bassett's action is the sort that feeds anti-Semitism, because it seems an expression of Jewish power. Note that Witty thinks that anti-Semitism is a real problem in the U.S. but he wants to let Finkelstein speak!
RE: "…Witty thinks that anti-Semitism is a real problem in the U.S. but he wants to let Finkelstein speak…"
MY COMMENT: I concur.
"1200 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians."
Not to pick nits, but the latest figures have it at somewhat over 1400.
Richard Witty thinks that anti-Semitism is a real problem in the U.S., but when asked what his evidence is, the best he can come up with is the Khazar nonsense, which, if it is anti-anthing is anti-Zionist creation myth. And when further challenged, he simply offers an ad hominem diversion.
If one believes that criticism of Israel or zionism is anti-semitism then there is surely an enormous increase. Such weird frickin preztel- logic, it's almost as if you are critical of me then you despise my very existence. But of course it seems zionists have thrown logic to the winds.
Note the passive voice: Palestinians have suffered Ie, it's their own fault.
Of course there is increases in anti-semitism in America recently. You yourself post about it, in the "tide turning" in attitudes towards Israel and your critique of the basis of those attitudes among Jews and non-Jews.
I think it is rude to exagerate the message of John Bassett's private letter to me, that I gave you permission to post.
A private letter to me is not news.
Richard Witty, your stating that "of course there is increases (sic) in anti-Semitism in America" does not constitute evidence. Try again, please.
And you are going to have to do a great deal better than the outlandishly childish "attitudes toward Israel" argument.
That nice man on TV calls Israel the Jewish State. The nice man on TV! That naturally leaves a Jew living outside of this putative "Jewish" state vulnerable to tar from the same brush. Thanks a lot Jewish State!
@ Witty: Is there another country in the entire world that expects no criticism? If I criticize France or China does that make me a racist? I REPEAT: Is there another country……..??
Shirin,
Ask Phil what he sees.
There is not objective measures to assess quantitatively in the affirmative or the negative.
ANY subjective assessment would have to include yes and n.
It would also have to clarify what version of anti-semitism you are addressing.
I experience increases, but that may be because as I age, read, pray, and increase my practise of Judaism even slightly, I notice it more and in different ways.
Do you notice those different ways? Probably not. Do you then have ANY basis of assessment? Likely not.
But, those that experience it do have a basis, and as painful as it is to rely on their assessment, that might be the best source of information.
In other words, Richard Witty, you cannot present so much as a shred of evidence for your assertion that anti-Semitism has increased in the U.S.
In other words, you and that university president pulled that assertion out of your backsides with the expectation that no one would question it.
And YOU not Phil made the assertion, therefore I am asking you, not Phil.
Exactly, Shirin.
Both Witty and Bassett agree to start with the premise that "the combined facts" of quantifiable
Palestinian death, maiming, and abode and services destruction" of a people herded into an open air prison AND a rising tide of anti-Semitism–are justification enough for the action/inaction at issue, that is, not spreading the word about the former because of a belief in the latter ism.
This reminds me of those advocating the teaching of "intelligent design" in a science class.
Federal and state funds (our lives & treasure) and cultural indoctrination (extended imprinting) are laid out for a steered E-Bay consumption.
Sorry, we don't go there anymore.
Where is the quantifiable tipping point edged over into anti-Semitism, the great mental disease once one notices the players most influential in the Banking, Media, and Neocon meltdown that has brought the US down?
Where is the quantifiable tipping point edged over into escalation strategy resulting in the Gaza massacre? Or not?
Do we look at proportion and disproportion at all? If not, was there a Shoah? Then, why don't we hear also about the Gypsies? Why do the Armenians get no poster?
Why do figures and an assembly of events only work one way when assessing truth labels?
Why is criticism of USA-Israeli de facto policy and covering lop-sided rhetoric conflated with
the Boogyman, anti-Semitism?
How do you know the boy sees a real fox, rather than that he simply looked into a mirror for the first time?
Witty
"I experience increases, but that may be because as I age, read, pray, and increase my practise of Judaism even slightly, I notice it more and in different ways.
Do you notice those different ways? Probably not. Do you then have ANY basis of assessment? Likely not.
But, those that experience it do have a basis, and as painful as it is to rely on their assessment, that might be the best source of information."
My God Witty – I asked for civility on this site a week back – but now you tip me over the edge.
Basically I hear you say – "As I get older and become more Jewish I feel more anti-semitism. Furthermore because you goyim don't feel what we feel your opinions are not valid. But because we Jews feel anti-semitism only we are allowed to comment on whether it exists or just how bad it is."
Where does one start with such twisted non-logic?
Hear me loud and clear – You are a fucking prick, Witty.
- the spineless swill you have been spewing here has finally exposed you as the Jewish supremacist, racist scumbag that has only simmered below the surface before – - – You are a fucking prick. It is the likes of you that have so disgusted me of late that I am becoming proud to be an anti-semite if that is what the likes of a Semite like you wants to call me – you are more dangerous to "The Jews" than than any hate spewing neo-Nazi skinhead you can point to. You are disgusting . Go shrivel up and die into that solipsistic cocoon of vile victimhood you pride yourself in praying to go deeper into. Fuck you . . .
"Me victim, you anti-semite. Oh did I mention the holocaust – again?"
Phil,
Is this the audience that you want?
5 shlomos -
as a matter of fact the majority of my best friends over the years as well as business associates have been Jewish, and though some of them have been Zionist – not one has exhibited the vile racism that Witty has consistently here.
Witty
It is the audience that YOU want – it reinforces the victimhood narrative that you have finally admitted you pray to absorb more of. . .
Bassett didn't "equate" anything in Gaza with his statement of about anti-semitism.
You exagerate off the scale Phil. Its insulting to the world, and it is no coincidence that the response is the idiocy that occurs here.
Witty Of course there is increases in anti-semitism in America recently.
Witty is no coincidence that the response is the idiocy that occurs here.
Amusing.
The poverty of the posters here, is that the only ACTION that they can conceive of taking is to insult.
NONE here are studying, collecting photos, stories, making films, interviewing victims, even of the Palestinians that they claim to revere. And certainly not posing a better argument that thoroughly (rather than loudly) addresses a goal.
Maybe they think that Phil will do it for them, and they can be "good soldiers" themselves.
But, Phil doesn't articulate a goal, as neither does Finkelstein.
90% of their commentary is to demean those that don't perceive the same mix of concerns (or lack) as they.
witty, why not answer the question asked by those here on your basis for a charge of 'an increase in antisemitism' rather then substituting with a poor attempt at negating those who post here? you can do better then that… i think it's a fair comment to say anti-zionism is on the increase, but that doesn't equate to antisemitism as some would like to suggest and it has every bit to do with israels inordinate use of force and control towards gaza and the palestinians in general… your words do nothing to change any of that…
Witty Of course there is increases in anti-semitism in America recently.
Witty You exagerate off the scale
————————-
Witty The poverty of the posters here, is that the only ACTION that they can conceive of taking is to insult.
Witty idiocy that occurs here.
Playing the victim again I see.
Maybe you should start by substantiating your point.
Witty
don't even dare to presume you can speak for me, my actions, or or my history. The only thing you can say with any certainty is that you pushed a hot head's buttons. You know nothing at all – I can say that because you have expressed nothing at all in the past year that I have been here. You carry yourself here like some great Socratic sage who prefers to ask probing questions so as to appear ever the profound even-handed thinker. People have tried the best they could to answer your questions – questions any idiot with a fleas worth of curiosity could have answered with any simple search. But not once have I ever seen you actually respond in kind to relevant questions posed to you in anything other than mushy mouth platitudes about open-mindedness and balance – never ever are any specifics answered about on the ground, hard / cold facts. . .You are nothing more than a cold-hearted prevaricator and die hard dissembler- a propagandist of the more elite variety – for the thinking man that you pretend to be – you are a fake.
The poverty of the posters here, is that the only ACTION that they can conceive of taking is to insult.
—
Generalize much?
Imagine someone saying, The poverty of the Jews here, is that the only ACTION that Jews can conceive of taking is to insult.
Seems to be unfairly stereotyping a bit, no? Especially since there seems to be "Jewish" opinion that runs the full spectrum here.
There is snark from both sides, some of it at times quite valid and/or amusing. While many try to berate Phil for the supposed character defects of his supporters, I can't recall any instances of the pro-Zionist crowd taking to task any of the vile, idiotic, non sequitur spewage coming from their side. It may have happened; I just haven't seen it.
I may not always agree with every point made by those closest to my way of thinking, or the way they sometimes express themselves, but am happy they put it out there for all to see so I can gauge my reaction to it.
A very few in pro-Zionist crowd may occasionally have a few crumbs of merit mixed in amongst the rest of the dreck (Mr. Witty probably being the most successful in this regard; certainly in comparison with most of the others), but on the whole come off as scratches and skips on a vinyl record; wholly annoying and devoid of content.
To generalize myself for a moment, it seems to me that Zionists (on the whole) want to catalog every slight, perceived or otherwise, by those taking issue with Zionism, while reserving for themselves the privilege to disassociate themselves with anything that might reveal them as hate-mongering supremacists (publicly at least; they'll cheer them on privately).
Having written all that, I guess sometimes it does seems more rational to just say, "F*ck you and all your stupid, murderous, b*llshit!"
@ Witty,
"NONE here are studying, collecting photos, stories, making films, interviewing victims, even of the Palestinians that they claim to revere."
I'm doing what I can do, and you can check out the recent article I wrote on my blog and if you can contribute to the scholarship mentioned in the article that would be wonderful, too.
Richard Witty, you have no idea whatsoever WHAT most of us here are doing, do you? You don't even know who most of us are, how we spend our days and nights, or even where we are. So, how can you say what we are NOT doing?
And I don't know anyone who claims to "revere" Palestinians, but your use of that obviously sarcastic phrase is very, very revelatory indeed of your attitude about a number of things.
@Richard Witty:
"It would also have to clarify what version of anti-semitism you are addressing.
I experience increases, but that may be because as I age, read, pray, and increase my practise of Judaism even slightly, I notice it more and in different ways."
Examples? WHAT EXACTLY are you noticing? Does the ATM say "I won't give you money, you're Jewish"? Is the local store clerk unfriendly to you because he thinks you're Jewish?
What exactly do you experience?
Try dialog, before shooting.
Try understanding my point, rather than what stimulates your defense.
You resemble what you criticize, especially around the issues of your imagination of being individually accused of "anti-semitism".
I NEVER presume to judge what another thinks or does. What I don't EVER hear of from most, is any approach that involves reconciliation or any respect for the other as part of the process of seeking "justice".
That absence of sensitivity that comes into say the production of an historical film, or fiction, or drama, or art, or essay, or book is in conflict with what I understand to be humanity.
If you feel that someone that genuinely regards Palestinians as human beings and actively searching for and advocating for a humane way to achieve mutual health, is an enemy of yours, then you are LOST.
And, worse if you are sincere, you DOOM your effort to remain lost.
And, the reason for that includes prominently the emphasis on anger and contempt, rather than even undertaking any serious self-inquiry into the inherent goal that inhabits the measuring of what to criticize.
My suspicion is that most of you (sorry to generalize) including Phil, fear to identify the principles or other criteria that is the basis of their comparisons, because they might have to acknowledge that they are inconsistent in their values to the point of very profound confusion.
Thats what negativity brings. What if others are treated as I treat? Shit, what a world that would be.
Peace and justice are constructed on the positive side, NOT the negative. The only element that requires criticism is for secondary tactical discussion. How do we make clear the contrast between the positive goal and/or criteria, and what currently is.
The CONSTANT reminder and most important discussion remains on the prize, NOT the means, and certainly not rationalizing that harranguing anyone is just or non-violent.
If you can't control your tongue, then you miss what is human in the world.
Witty Try understanding my point
Witty Of course there is increases in anti-semitism in America recently.
Would if you could actually make it, instead of these long victimized posts peppered with caps-loc.
It does not bring me any pleasure to say that my childish outburst earlier has provoked you to reveal the true nature of your drug problem – or lack thereof . . perhaps Walgreens has gotten the prescription wrong . . .
I've made my points about the way anti-semitism is expressed numerous times.
It would be redundant, and expose myself to odd exegesis oriented towards contempt rather than understanding.
To summarize again:
There are two forms that anti-semitism takes.
1. Contempt for individuals that are born to Jewish families. (This anti-semitism is the grossest and represents hatred independant of one's action in any way.) There is some of this anti-semitism in the world, mostly in the form of residual stereotypes. (The invocation of some of the stereotypes and stated contemptuously are reviving slightly. Illustrations of some of the themes exist on this site. They are most often rejected by rational people, as untrue, insignficant, prejudicial.)
2a. Contempt for individuals and communities that choose to remain Jewish in attitude, choice of association, culture. For whatever rational and irrational reasons, many Jews feel most comfortable among those with similar references, community. The history of persecution, culminating in the genocidal efforts of the early – mid- twentieth century, firmed the identity strongly of European and other diaspora Jews, and the rational and IRRATIONAL rejection of Jewish settlement in Israel by Arab communities, compelled that association to be firmed into a state.
So, in that regard anti-Zionism is a form of anti-semitism. Criticism of policies is not, even criticism of original decisions and methods of formation. But Zionism is less racist than anti-Zionism (absent a CONFIDENT BETTER sincere goal).
2b. Contempt for Jews that remain religious as the basis or in addition to cultural basis of association.
This view is widely held, and expresses in contempt for Jewish holidays (here), contempt for Jewish practise. The distinction between this anti-semitism and criticism is the purpose. If the purpose is inquiry and reconciliation of confusion, then that would be the tone. When contempt is the tone, something else is going on.
Witty,
I don't get what the rejection of a Jewish state has in connection with the rejection of Jewish culture or choice of association.
The Palestinians had welcomed Jewish migration to the region but when it became clear that they wanted their own state, that's when things turned nasty.
By conflating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, you ignore the problem of real anti-Semitism. It seems people haven't heard what happened to the boy who cried wolf.
Jesus Christ Witty, now I understand, it's Easter and you haven't been out in days for fear of Mel Gibson patrolling your streets — Oh, but I am confused – I thought Neal Gabler said the Jews were proud that they invented Hollywood . . .damn, your homeys somehow let the anti-semites slip through the defences to wreak fear in your neighbourhood. So what's that about, dewd ? Yikes – call Abe – - call Elie . . .
Me victim , you anti-semite , did I mention the Holocaust? – well let's do it again like we did last summer, let's twist again like we did last year…… Hell, let's bring in Norman Finkelstein to help – he's unemployed after all… Jumpin Jehosephat, the incoherency around here is contagious….and the boy keeps cryin' wolf…
Ful – you don't have a clue.
Shafiq – There is no "conflating" of anti-Zionism with anti-semitism. It itself is a form of it.
Criticism of policies is not anti-semitism. Contempt for the self-association and self-governance is.
Witty ….(no proof)….
Lame.
Witty So, in that regard anti-Zionism is a form of anti-semitism.
Extra lame.
Witty Contempt for the self-association and self-governance is.
Embrace the tradition of Jews being "staunch advocates of open immigration (In the US)" and embrace multiculturalism in Israel. Instead of forced transfers, try equal rights of Le'um for all its citizens.
How about embracing that proud Jewish tradition rather than the baseless imagining of the anti-semites around the corner.
Witty, My problem with Israel is not that it is Jewish. My problem is the treatment of the Palestinians. I also have protested every war the US has engaged in since and including Vietnam. The US is guilty of war crimes too. Everytime a person is killed I try to imagine their family. There are Americans who say that I hate America but they are just as full of shit as you are. I detest the callous disregard of other human beings. A Palestinian life is as valuable as a Jewish one, not more not less. I am roused by a sense of injustice. You are dead wrong to think that criticizing Israel is anti-semitism. You must get past that if you value your sanity. At the core, Jews are merely human beings, not better or worse that any others. I have been called anti-semie since '67 when I merely quoted my sabra roommate who fought in the '67 war. He loves Israel. The comments weren't contempt of the state, just mild complaints of army life. American Jewish Zionists have a serious debility of thought. You are sick in regards to Israel. Is the mere fact that you were born Jewish make you a superior human being? You might think so but, I can't speak for others, I think not.
Byers and Regev,
I also protest the treatment of the Palestinians and actually work to form a solution that realizes a qualitative positive change.
You have the audacity to claim that I am "full of shit"
You read the exact OPPOSITE of what I stated overtly. Read the last post.
I get how that happens. Its stupid though.
I could understand if you opposed all nationalism. That would at least be consistent, even if unrealistic.
@Richard Witty:
So you informed me/us on the theoretical incarnations of Jew-hating. Thank you. Before I comment on what you said, let's ask again for something you did not say in this thread:
Where did you personally in real life, on the street, encounter Jew-hate or an increase in Jew-hate? What are your anecdotes?
As for what you wrote:
"The invocation of some of the stereotypes and stated contemptuously are reviving slightly. Illustrations of some of the themes exist on this site."
You mean stereotypes of Jews? It's not our fault that ancient generations invented the stereotype of the rich Jews for example. If we (like Phil) want to discuss the sociological phenomenon of wealthy Zionist Jewish and Christian) individuals and organisations in America today, I don't see a problem.
Hint: There also is the stereotype of Poles stealing cars and other stuff. Now if there is a detective going after a car smuggling ring which happens to be Polish, do you cry "stereotype" and force him to stop his investigation?
If you do, youre moral compass is broken.
You have the audacity to claim that I am "full of shit"
I haven't said that. You have failed to substantiate your posts at all. For you to be "full of shit" you would have to at least engage the conversation than to dodge.
I could understand if you opposed all nationalism. That would at least be consistent
Much the same arguments Jewish organizations had for open borders and multiculturalism here in the US are equally applicable to Israel. Its more pertinent since there are as many displaced inhabitants there as Jews. Israel never had a smallpox epidemic to wipe out 90 percent of its Palestinians. Multiculturalism is arguably more pertinent for Israel.
Witty
Of course this is "out of context" but your definition of anti-Semitism includes:
"….IRRATIONAL rejection of Jewish settlement in Israel by Arab communities, compelled that association [Jewish in attitude, choice of association, culture] to be firmed into a state."
your words – most intersting…..
Witty says: "I also protest the treatment of the Palestinians and actually work to form a solution that realizes a qualitative positive change."
________________________________________________________________
So you can criticize Israel but we can't. Do I read this right?
There is something happening here that happens frequently among those that feel that they are being accused of being "anti-semitic". They shoot back driven by the fear, not accurately substance.
It is exactly the SAME as they accuse the ADL of, of reacting rather than responding. Reacting to what they fear is being said, rather than what is said.
There is NO PLACE on this site where I stated that "anti-semitism is increasing in the US". Its unknowable to me. I see incidences of increase, and a blurring of the line between what is acceptable from what is prejudiced and thankfully reduced over a few decades.
Is the economy improving or is it declining? If you look at the stock market over the last two weeks, its improving. If you look at the last 5 years, its declining. If you look at unemployment numbers or plant production numbers, its declining. (Unemployment numbers are a lagging indicator, production output is a definitive indicator.)
I outlined the ranges of what IS anti-semitism, with the implication that when most ask objectively, "is anti-semitism increasing", they only include the incidents of swastika painting, or physical skinhead like harrassment of Jews or minorities, or published hate speech.
The left has largely and gullibly bought into the line that "Zionism is racism", but fails to consider that anti-Zionism is racism.
I don't remember who above, but someone stated that Palestinians welcomed Jewish immigration to the region "until" they "discovered" what the Jews really wanted. There are so many confusions in EACH element of that assertion, to make it a ludicrous self-talking one.
For example, there was certainly NO unanimous relation to Jewish immigrants. Some accepted them. Some welcomed them as new blood, new ideas, new efforts. Some welcomed them as "new marks". Some repelled them as foreigners, and from various perspectives.
Second, the Jews that settled the region did so from very various motivations. Some, very few from my read, did so as a political party vanguard to take over the land from the Palestinians. Most simply sought refuge and within their familiar (and simultaneiously radically new) community.
The most decisive example of ethnic cleansing of Jews from Palestine occurred in Hebron in 1929. There was a "minor" massacre (I don't know the number of deaths). The most significant element of the conflict was that it was the first large application of the rejectionist logic applied in terror force.
So, you can gullibly believe the simplistic story, or engage in some real reading that illustrates the complexity of the relationships.
In ALL cases, the need is for reconciliation between the communities, NOT for agitation of conflict between them. If dissent results in reconciliation, then it has succeeded. If it results in increased violence, or increased intent at violence, then it is a horrid failure.
Justice is NOT constructed by the second eye ("eye for an eye"). Its constructed by the mutual acceptance, that might result from the second eye (in modern translation by some form of accepted compensation), but the reconciliation is the goal, not the ruthless acquisition of the second eye, then requiring a third, then fourth, etc.
Someone asked what I have experienced that I would describe as anti-semitism. One is a few incidents in my home town. One was the painting of swastikas on the local shul and at a town landmark. After that incident, members of seven churches (including two Catholic) marched in town to condemn the swastika paintings. It was wonderful.
A second incident happened to my son. That was on his first day of school. He talked in his class about his then recent bar mitzvah and a classmate wrote swastikas on his textbooks and sent him a note that "Hitler should have finished the job". The kid was expelled. The school was very supportive of him. It was still a trauma.
I identify with Palestinians that face such baseless contemptuous comments from some idiots in Israel. I doubt that there were such unanimous demonstrations by Israelis against such treatment.
In objecting to supporters of Norman Finkelstein in particular over a few years, I've experienced a great deal of contemptuous statements that have apologized for holocaust denial advocates, that have expressed contempt for any Jew that values the presence of Israel as a Jewish haven, whether historically or presently.
After 911, it was most pronounced, with so many prejudicial speculations that 911 was a Zionist operation. My younger son yesterday was asked to write a paper on Amiri Baraka. He's a skeptic. He doesn't buy any canned line. His reaction to Amiri Baraka's comments on 911 were that Baraka was an anti-semite, selectively willing to impugn without evidence.
Witty
Did European Jews settle on land that had been occupied by others for centuries or not?
Questions of Jewish purchases from the Ottomans aside – can you please answer this simple question.
Witty Of course there is increases in anti-semitism in America recently. April 11, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Witty There is NO PLACE on this site where I stated that "anti-semitism is increasing in the US". April 12, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Witty
I am serious about this : are you sure yours meds are in order ?
Maybe Witty was being impersonated when he/his nickname said that there's an increase in Jewhate.
@Richard Witty:
"Someone asked what I have experienced that I would describe as anti-semitism."
Yep, that was me. Thanks for your anecdotes. I see in both cases society has reacted to the Jewhate accordingly and supported the Jewish victim. I'm glad it didn't involve more serious incidents, and I hope your son slowly got over it.
Witty, I have been called honky, ofay, gray, gringo, pendejo etc on and on for the color of my skin. I don't think seriously about it. I live in Mexico. I was here during the Bay of Pigs incident and was living in a boarding house full of Caribbean students. I had to hide for a while but it got me thinking. I lived in a house of black Muslims in Seattle. Mostly they were Africans, but the owner was from Texas and hates white men, but is married to a white woman, but we got along. The only openly anti-Semite I ever met is a woman who had a Jewish father and was married to a Jew. And yes I deplore nationalism, I truly believe that we all live inside one skin. Flags are raised out of fear. My country is better than yours cause I was born there. I have lived in many countries as an artist and have found value in each of them. Did you ever think your high school was better than any other? Of course you did. do you still think so?
"the owner was from Texas and hates white men, but is married to a white woman"
Haha, do you know the one sketch from Dave Chapelle where he plays a black white supremacist? Classic.
Witty, I have been called honky, ofay, gray, gringo, pendejo etc on and on for the color of my skin. I don't think seriously about it. I live in Mexico. I was here during the Bay of Pigs incident and was living in a boarding house full of Caribbean students. I had to hide for a while but it got me thinking. I lived in a house of black Muslims in Seattle. Mostly they were Africans, but the owner was from Texas and hates white men, but is married to a white woman, but we got along. The only openly anti-Semite I ever met is a woman who had a Jewish father and was married to a Jew. And yes I deplore nationalism, I truly believe that we all live inside one skin. Flags are raised out of fear. My country is better than yours cause I was born there. I have lived in many countries as an artist and have found value in each of them. Did you ever think your high school was better than any other? Of course you did. do you still think so?